West Portland member of parliament, MP, Daryl Vaz, is rejecting calls to withdraw statements he made to the audience at the Jamaica Labour Party’s, JLP, constituency conference in central Kingston on Sunday night.

In reaction to several gunshots which disturbed the proceedings, at the time MP for the constituency, Donovan Williams, was on stage, Vaz vowed that the JLP would not be intimidated by the desperate attempts of those intent on derailing their bid to win the seat.

The People’s National Party, PNP, have interpreted the comments as an attack on the party and say they have reported Vaz to the Office of the Political Ombudsman.

But speaking on Nationwide at Five on Monday, Vaz was unrepentant.

Mahiri Stewart tells us more.

This was Daryl Vaz comments following the disruption of a JLP meeting due to the sounds of nearby gunfire.

The police have since stated that that the shooting incident was not politically linked.

In a statement on Monday, PNP general secretary, Dr. Dayton Campbell, says Mr. Vaz’s premature comments were not only dangerous but also inflammatory.

Dr. Campbell says he should withdraw the comments.

But the senior cabinet minister, in response, is questioning the moral authority of Dr. Campbell to level such an accusation.

Minister Vaz says he made no claim that the PNP was involved in the shooting.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Political Ombudsman says it has scheduled a meeting with the Police High Command and will be touring sections of central Kingston following Sunday night’s incident.

This, it says, is to observe political activity and assess the general atmosphere surrounding electioneering at this time.

In a statement Monday night, the office says it’s appealing to political actors and their supporters to exercise good judgment, responsible conduct, and peaceful political engagement.

It said no act of violence, real or perceived, should be tolerated or allowed to interfere with the conduct of free and fair elections.